Its findings show that lead in the blood of 30 percent of the children in the city are above the levels set by the American Centre for Disease Control and Prevention.
The research team leader Bontle Mbongwe said that the children had lead levels of 10 or above micrograms per decilitre of blood. This is defined as lead poisoning. Mbongwe said the University of Botswana funded the research in collaboration with Medical Research Council of South Africa. The study was conducted to determine the prevalence of lead in the blood of children aged between the ages of one and six. Mbongwe said the study was meant to determine lead levels in painted surfaces, soil, dust and drinking water in and around homes. It was also aimed at determining the level of awareness of lead among parents. She said that the findings showed a relationship between contaminated soil with lead and an elevated blood lead level. She said the study looked at socio-economic factors such as the educational background of parents. She said the research revealed a correlation between low education and elevated blood lead levels. Parents were advised to keep their houses dust free as much as possible and stop using feather dusters in favour of damp cloths to wipe off surfaces. "Parents should use tri-sodium phosphate based detergents to wipe off surfaces such as window sills where children tend to hold onto," she said.
